Reproducibility of dopamine and serotonin transporter binding measured with single-photon emission computed tomography

Abstract

Alterations in dopaminergic and serotonergic systems have been observed in many neuropsychiatric disorders. We evaluated the reproducibility of dopamine (DAT) and serotonin transporter (SERT) binding measured with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Two repeated SPECT studies with nor-(β-CIT were performed within one year interval in 11 healthy control subjects. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.79 (p < 0.01) for DAT and 0.82 (p < 0.01) for SERT, respectively. The agreements between two measurements were good. Therefore we considered acceptable to use SPECT with nor-(β-CIT in measurements of DAT and SERT binding in various neuropsychiatric disorders. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.